By Robert Moran
The Philadelphia Inquirer
BENSALEM, Pa. — The Union Fire Company might soon be responding to 911 calls again, but its suspension has not been lifted, said Bensalem’s top safety official.
Fred Harran, the township’s public safety director, said Friday that the volunteer company was not resuming fire runs yet, but has been allowed to resume training and take applications for new firefighters.
“I’m optimistic they’ll open and be a good, viable fire company,” Harran said.
A report surfaced Friday that the suspension had been lifted, but Harran said that was incorrect. He said the company still needed to meet certain conditions. Harran declined to elaborate.
In July, the company was suspended for the second time in 13 months. At issue was the company’s $1 million fireboat, bought with a federal Port Security Grant.
Harran said that the company did not need the boat and that the township was working to return it to the federal government, with the hope that Bensalem could get other federal money.
As part of getting the suspension lifted, the company’s fire chief, Dave Jerri, had to resign, along with the company’s president and vice president.
Jerri, a truck driver, said he had since joined a volunteer company in Bristol Borough.
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